Ryanair passengers say they are ‘held to ransom’ by new cabin-baggage rules –

“Effectively you need to pay more. How can they do this on existing bookings? I feel I am being held to ransom.”

Many Ryanair passengers have contacted about the changes. Robin Griggs, a frequent flyer between Manchester and Carcassonne in south-west France, said: “Frequent flyers do not like waiting at the arrival hall to pick up their bags, it adds 20-30 minutes to the journey time.

The change was announced last summer. It was initially planned to be introduced on 1 November, but was postponed until 15 January as the airline sorted out the problems with pilot rostering which led to mass flight cancellations.

“It’s simply physics that you can’t have 185 people on an aircraft with a wheelie bag and a rucksack,” said Mr Jacobs.

In fact, say the airline, the package of changes will cost it €50m (£45m). The airline’s director of marketing, Kenny Jacobs, told it was “the most-flagged policy change ever”.

The airline warns passengers: “Failure to comply [with cabin baggage rules] will result in a charge of £50 per item at the departure gate.”